US agriculture urges support for Japan TPP participation

Over 70 U.S. agriculture groups urged a warm welcome for Japan in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.

NAWG | Apr 02, 2013

More than 70 food and ag groups wrote President Barack Obama urging a warm welcome to Japan in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. The country announced its intention to join the talks earlier this month, winning widespread support in the U.S., particularly the agriculture sector.

“The addition of Japan to the negotiations will exponentially increase the importance of the TPP to U.S. farmers and ranchers, processors and exporters as well as other sectors of the U.S. economy,” the letter's signatories said. Japan is the world’s third largest economy and the United States’ fourth largest ag export market. Japan is also often the biggest buyer of U.S. wheat in the world. The U.S. wheat industry strongly supports a successful TPP agreement.